Pipe-coupling



No. 626,937. Patented lune I3,.l899. C. B. SMITH & H. F. LISLE.

P IPE GUUPLING. (Application filed Jan. 3l, 1898.)

(No Model.)

5mm/Wow:

@lk/komma :is co. PHoTaLmio,.wAsHlNG-on n c UNITED STATES CHARLES R.SMITH AND HARRY F. LISLE, CF BLOOINIINGTON, ILLINOIS.

'PATENT CFFICE.

PIPE-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 626,937, dated June 13,1899.

Application filed January 31,1898. Serial No. 668,602. (No model.)

To @ZZ wil/0m it may concern:

Be it known that we, CHARLES R. SMITH and HARRY F. LISLE, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Bloomington, in the county of McLean andState of Illinois, have invented certai n new and useful Improvements inPipe- Couplings; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and eXact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

Our invention relates to improvements in iiexible pi pe-couplin gs; andthe objects of our invention are to produce a pipe-coupling of thisclass that will be of simple and durable construction, that isspecifically adapted for use in air-brake systems for railways, (thoughwhich may be employed in any fluid-pressure system,) and that is capableof automatically connecting up and disconnecting or coupling anduncoupling, and by such is adapted to automatically interrupt or cut offthe Huidpressure at such'uncoupling and immediately reestablish the sameupon coupling.

' IVith these main and other minor objects in View (not necessary hereto detail) the inv'ention consists in certain features of constructionand combinations of elements hereinafter described, and moreparticularlypointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan View of two pipe-couplingsconstructed in accordance with our invention, the same being shown intheir coupled or operative position, and therefore in the position theyoccupy when the train is made up and the entire system of fluid-pressureis operating. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View of the receivingend of the coupler. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig.2.

Like numerals indicate like parts in all thev figures of the drawings.

Our improved pipe-coupler comprises two branches, which we willdesignate as the male branch 1 and the female branch 2, it beingunderstood that such a coupler is located at the opposite ends of arailway-car, the two couplers being connected by an intermediateconnection, hereinafter described.

'The male member of the coupler consists of a pipe 3, of suitablelength, the same terminating at its outer or front end in anexternally-tapered or entering point 4, that projects somewhat beyondthe end of the car (not shown) and is designed to become forced andwedged into the funnel-shaped end 5 of the opposing female member 2.

The female member 2 hasits funnel-shaped mouth located at the front endof a pipe 6 of less length than the pipe 1 and may be interiorlythreaded at its rear or inner end to accommodate a coupling-sleeve 7 bymeans of Whichit may be connected to a cylinder-pipe 8, between the endsof the latter, whereby the cylinder-pipe 8 at its front end terminatesabout midway the pipe 6. The front end of the cylinder-pipe 8 isprovided with lugs 9, the functions of which will hereinafter appear.YConnected to the rear or inner end of the cylinder-pipe 8 is the frontbranch 10 of a T-couplin g l1, which within its rear branch 12, andtherefore back of its intermediate branch 13, may be provided with aninternal valve-seat 14. The rear branch 12 of the T- coupling 1lterminates in a guide 15, that is concentric with the valve-seat 14 andthe bore of the cylinder-pipe 8. Located for reciprocation in thesealining openings just mentioned and extending beyond the guide 15 at oneend and the cylinder-pipe 8 is a valverod 16, the same having its frontend provided with a presser head or disk 17, that may be perforated andadapted to close against the lugs 9, whereby it is prevented fromclosing the front end of the cylinder-pipe, and which rod between itsguide-eye 15 and the valveseat 111 carries a tapered valve-plug 18. Thedistance between the valve-plug 18 and the presser head or disk 17exceeds that between the valve-seat and front end of the cylinderpipe,so that when the valve is in its seat the presser-head is away from itsseat at the front end of the cylinder-pipe, and vice versa. A lightcoiled spring 19 may be mounted on the valve-rod between the valve-plugand guideeye 15, the tendency of the spring being to normally close thevalve-plug against its seat and force the presser-head forward away fromits seat.

Between the adjacent ends 12 of the T- couplings of two sets of couplersis located an intermediate connecting-pipe 20, the ends of the samebeing connected to the branches 12 of the T-couplings by means offiexible pipes IOO y the female member of the other.

iereinafter described.

cated an elbow connection or coupling 22, the inner branch of which isconnected to the branch 13 of the T-eoupling 11 by means ofi atransverse connecting-pipe 23. This pipe has projecting rearwardlytherefrom a stud g 24, the same being located some distance from and inline with a corresponding stud 25, lo-

cated on the front ota buffer-block 26 or;

other fixed support. A heavy coiled spring 27 eucircles the two studsand is interposed between the buffer-block and pipe 23,whereby the pipe-coiipler as a whole is yieldingly pressed forward and the shocl; orimpact caused by the couplers uniting is absorbed.

In order to secure a Huid-tight joint between the male and femalemembers, we may provide the latter with an internal lining 28 of rubber.

At suitable points the two members coinprising the pipe-coupling aresupported for reciprocation in hangers 28, as shown by dotted lines,Fig. 1.A I

The operation of our invention will be undoubtedly understood fromI theforegoing description. Two coaches coming together, the male member ofeach will be caused to enter By this the reduced pipes 3 are broughtinto contact with and caused to force inward the presser-heads 17,forcing the valve-rods 16 to the rear and therefore the valve-plugs awayfrom their seats, thus establishing communication throughout the system.Vhen the coaches are uncoupled, the pipe-couplings automaticallydisconnect, and upon so doing the springs 1S) automatically close thevalve-plugs against their seats. A

Having described our invention, what we claim is- 1. The combination ofopposite pipe-couplings, each consisting of a tubular male member andfemale member, the former comprising the reduced pipe, and the lattercomprising the pipe 6, flared at its front end to receive the malemember of an opposing coupler, the cylinder-pipe 8 connected to the pipe6 and terminating within the same at which point it is provided withopenings, guideslo- V"perniitting of a longitudinal movent upon the partof the pipe-couplings,as;

At the inner or rear end of the pipe 3 is located in the cylinder-pipe arear pipe having a valve-seat alining with the guides of the pipe 8 andconnected to said latter pipe, a valve-rod of less diameter than thepipe 8, mounted in the guides thereof and extending beyond the front endof the latter and the said valve-seat, a valve-plug on the rear end ofsaid rod, a head on the front end of the rod, a vspring for. normallypressing the rod to the front so as to close said valve, and aconnection between the two members and with 'the train system.

2. The combination of opposite pipe-couplings,each consisting of thetubular male inember, 1, and female member, 2, the former comprising thereduced pipe, 3, and elbow connect-ion, 22, and -the other membercomprising the pipe, 6, flared as at 5, the cylinderpipe, 8, connectedthereto, the T- shaped coupling, 11, having the branches, 10, 12, and13, said coupling having the guide-eye, 15, and valve-seat, 14E, thevalve-rod, 16, located in the cylinder-pipe and guide eye, thepresser-head at the front end of the rod, the valve-plug on the rod, thecoiled spring, 10,

between the plug and eye, and the connecting-pipe, 23, between the T andelbow couplings.

3. The combination of opposite pipe-couplings,each consistingofthetubular male member, 1, and female member, 2, the formercomprisiug thereduced pipe, 3, and elbow connection, 22, and the other membercomprising the pipe, 6, iiared as at 5, the cylinderpipe, 8, connectedthereto, the T -shaped coupling, 1l, having the branches 10, 12, and 13,said coupling having the guide-eye, 15, and valve-seat, 14, thevalve-rod, 16, located in the cylinder-pipe and guide eye, thepresser-head at the front end of the rod, the

valve-plug on the rod, the coiled spring, 19,

` between the plug and eye, and the connectf ing-pipe, 23, between the Tand elbow coupl lings, the buffer, 26, the studs, 24 and 25, the coiledspring, 27', and connecting-pipes, 20

and 2l.

CHARLES R. SMITH. HARRY F. LISLE.

